Creativity is a skill you can develop. Here are some suggestions on how you can do this:

• Think of yourself as creative. Research shows that if you think you can’t be creative, you won’t be. Believing in your ability to be creative is the first step in becoming more creative.

• Pay attention to your intuition. Every individual has a subconscious mind that works well. Sometimes answers will come to you when you least expect them. Listen to that “inner voice.” In fact, most creative people will keep a notepad near their bed and write down ideas when the thoughts come to them.

• Move away from your comfort zone. Every individual has a comfort zone in which certainty exists. But creativity and the known often do not mix. To be creative, you need to move away from the status quo and focus your mind on something new.

• Determine what you want to do. This includes such things as taking time to understand a problem before beginning to try to resolve it, getting all the facts in mind, and trying to identify the most important facts.

• Think outside the box. Use analogies whenever possible (for example, could you approach your problem like a fish out of water and look at what the fish does to cope? Or can you use the things you have to do to find your way when it’s foggy to help you solve your problem?). Use different problem-solving strategies such as verbal, visual, mathematical, or theatrical. Look at your problem from a different perspective or ask yourself what someone else, like your grandmother, might do if faced with the same situation.

• Look for ways to do things better. This may involve trying consciously to be original, not worrying about looking foolish, keeping an open mind, being alert to odd or puzzling facts, thinking of unconventional ways to use objects and the environment, discarding usual or habitual ways of doing things, and striving for objectivity by being as critical of your own ideas as you would those of someone else.

• Find several right answers. Being creative means continuing to look for other solutions even when you think you have solved the problem. A better, more creative solution just might be found.

• Believe in finding a workable solution. Like believing in yourself, you also need to believe in your ideas. If you don’t think you can find a solution, you probably won’t.

• Brainstorm with others. Creativity is not an isolated activity. Bouncing ideas off of others creates a synergistic effect.

• Turn creative ideas into action. Coming up with creative ideas is only part of the process. Once the ideas are generated, they must be implemented. Keeping great ideas in your mind, or on papers that no one will read, does little to expand your creative abilities.

Read through this scenario and follow the directions at the end of it:

Every time the phone rings, your stomach clenches and your palms start to sweat. And it’s no wonder! As sales manager for Brinkers, a machine tool parts manufacturer, you’re besieged by calls from customers who are upset about late deliveries. Your boss, Carter Hererra, acts as both production manager and scheduler. Every time your sales representatives negotiate a sale, it’s up to Carter to determine whether production can actually meet the delivery date the customer specifies. And Carter invariably says, “No problem.” The good thing about this is that you make a lot of initial sales. The bad news is that production hardly ever meets the shipment dates that Carter authorizes. And he doesn’t seem to be all that concerned about the aftermath of late deliveries. He says, “Our customers know they’re getting outstanding quality at a great price. Just let them try to match that anywhere. It can’t be done. So even if they have to wait a couple of extra days or weeks, they’re still getting the best deal they can.” Somehow the customers don’t see it that way. And they let you know about their unhappiness. Then it’s up to you to try to soothe the relationship. You know this problem has to be taken care of, but what possible solutions are there? After all, how are you going to keep from making your manager mad or making the customers mad?

Break into groups of three. Assume you’re the sales manager. What creative solutions can your group come up with to deal with this problem?